Las Vegas, NV – The Culinary Union picketed Dr. James E. Nave outside his East Tropicana Animal Hospital today. **Click here for PHOTOS and VIDEO** Hospitality workers want Dr. Nave to tell Green Valley Ranch to follow federal labor law and start negotiations for a first-time union contract immediately. Even though workers voted by a 78% margin to join the Culinary and Bartenders Unions, the casino has refused to concede and continues to reject worker’s lawful demand for immediate contract negotiations. Dr. Nave is a director of Red Rock Resorts, the parent company of Station Casinos, Nevada’s third largest private employer and owner and operator of Green Valley Ranch.

“Green Valley Ranch is now required by law to recognize its workers’ choice and start contract negotiations in good faith immediately,” said Geoconda Argüello-Kline, Secretary-Treasurer for the Culinary Union. “The workers at Green Valley Ranch had a National Labor Board Relations secret-ballot election, as the company always preferred, and workers chose to unionize in a landslide. Dr. Nave should use his position of authority to tell Green Valley Ranch to come to the bargaining table right away.”

The National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) conducted a two-day secret-ballot election at Green Valley Ranch last November, and 78% of the workers who voted, chose to be represented by the Culinary and Bartenders Unions. The NLRB has now denied the casino’s legal challenge to the union election and has certified the Culinary and Bartenders Unions as the collective bargaining agent for bartenders, cocktail servers, housekeepers, cooks, and other hotel and restaurant workers at Green Valley Ranch. Green Valley Ranch is now legally required to negotiate in good faith with the Unions. The company will be in violation of federal law if it continues to refuse to negotiate a union contract, and the Culinary Union has now filed a charge with the NLRB alleging just that.

Workers at the Palms Casino, another Station Casinos property, voted by 84% to unionize in yet another NLRB secret-ballot election this past April. Once again refusing to concede an overwhelming loss, Station Casinos has filed legal challenges seeking to overturn the result of that election.

Station Casinos has said many times that they would respect their employees’ right to decide whether to unionize through a secret-ballot NLRB election:

We have said all along that if a fair and lawful election is held we will abide by the results.” - Richard Haskins, president of Station Casinos (Las Vegas Review Journal – September 1, 2016).

“We…support their right to join a union if they so choose as that decision is theirs, not ours, to make.” – Lori Nelson, Station Casinos spokeswoman (Las Vegas Sun - February 12, 2016).

"We’ve always respected our employees’ right to join a union if that’s what they want to do.” – Lori Nelson, Station Casinos spokeswoman (Las Vegas Sun - January 20, 2016).

"Station Casinos officials have said they are willing to allow a secret-ballot vote” (Las Vegas Review Journal - October 7, 2014).

"The decision to join a union belongs to our team members, and we respect that right.” – Lori Nelson, Station Casinos spokeswoman (Las Vegas Sun – August 29, 2014).

“We’ve made it really clear that the door is open for a secret-ballot election.” - Lori Nelson, Station Casinos spokeswoman (Wall Street Journal – March 22, 2013).

“We have always recognized our team members’ right to be represented by a union if they so choose.” – Lori Nelson, Station Casinos spokeswoman (Las Vegas Review Journal – February 17, 2011).

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ABOUT THE CULINARY UNION: Culinary Workers Union Local 226 and Bartenders Union Local 165, Nevada affiliates of UNITE HERE, represent over 57,000 workers in Las Vegas and Reno, including at most of the casino resorts on the Las Vegas Strip and in Downtown Las Vegas. UNITE HERE represents 270,000 workers in gaming, hotel, and food service industries in North America.

The Culinary Union, through the Culinary Health Fund, is one of the largest healthcare consumers in the state. The Culinary Health Fund is sponsored by the Culinary Union and Las Vegas-area employers. It provides health insurance coverage for over 143,000 Nevadans, the Culinary Union’s members and their dependents.

The Culinary Union is Nevada’s largest immigrant organization with over 57,000 members - a diverse membership that is approximately 55% women and 54% Latino. Members - who work as guest room attendants, bartenders, cocktail and food servers, porters, bellmen, cooks, and kitchen workers - come from 173 countries and speak over 40 different languages. The Culinary Union has been fighting for fair wages, job security, and good health benefits for working men and women in Nevada for 83 years.